New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg donated $500,000 to Americans Elect, which used it to help buy $1.75 million worth of ads on Angus King's behalf in the U.S. Senate race.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who's already donated a half-million dollars to independent Angus King's Senate campaign, will host a fundraiser for the former two-term governor next week. Democrat Cynthia Dill called the out-of-state spending in the race "repugnant.''

Bloomberg donated $500,000 to Americans Elect, which used it to help buy $1.75 million worth of ads on King's behalf in the Senate race.

Dill, whose campaign is underfunded compared to King and Republican Charlie Summers, decried the out-of-state influence, saying "we need to end the financial arms race in Maine.''

King's campaign has accused the GOP and conservative groups of starting the ad wars. But Republicans call King hypocritical for decrying the influence of outside money while accepting contributions from people outside Maine.